Desert Mountain Retreat is a contemporary southwestern home nestled in the foothills of the Sandia & Manzano Mountains. Recently renovated, Desert Mountain is at once modern yet traditional, reflecting the deep history of New Mexican architecture & style, with contemporary design elements. Our home is surrounded by mountains & high desert with plenty of space & hiking trails, yet only 18 minutes to the airport, 12 minutes to downtown, and 5 minutes to grocery stores & other services.
THE SPACE
Feel remote without being remote.
Desert Mountain Retreat sits on over 1 acre of land, backing up to wilderness with miles of hiking & wildlife, yet only minutes from services and other Albuquerque destinations. Our unique location - in the mouth of the Tijeras canyon dividing two alpine mountain ranges, yet right off I-40 that runs right through town - lets you have it both ways: A remote mountain house feel, yet minutes from the highway and everything in Albuquerque.
Inside are three distinct living spaces: In opposing sides of the home are the master suite & guest wing, creating space & privacy for those sharing the house. Both meet together in the large open floor plan common area with kitchen, dining area, craft cocktail bar setup, lounge, and living room area with a large TV, gas fireplace, and 180 degree views of the surrounding mountains. A full office, perfect for remote work, separates the two bedroom areas.
Outside are multiple sitting areas overlooking the mountains surrounding the house, patio with outdoor sofa chairs, and Adirondack chairs with a 70 mile view into the Rio Grande Valley. Catch a perfect New Mexican sunset, watch monsoon thunderstorms roll across the city below, or enjoy the stars in the dark night sky above.
*We offer a Hot Spring hot tub as well as an added service upon request (no fee), but due to water restrictions in the area and time it takes to drain & refill if necessary, we are not able to make it available for each stay. All requests for use are considered on a first-come basis, so we suggest contacting us as soon as possible to determine availability, as we cannot guarantee that the hot tub will be available unless confirmed prior.*
Our home is a "smart home:"
• Easily control lighting by room or by house with the double-click of a wall switch
• Low-energy LED & smart bulbs keeping energy consumption minimal
• Keyless entry with individual guest code for ease & security
• High speed Wifi (consistent, with download speeds over 100mbps)
Throughout the house, thoughtfully chosen design elements blend old world New Mexican charm, desert southwest minimalism, and contemporary deign features:
KITCHEN/LOUNGE/DINING:
• Gorgeous granite countertops with patterns resembling the mountains outside
• Custom walnut bar top, island, & plant wall
• Craft cocktail setup & vintage stemware (alcohol not included)
• Gas range & oven
• Oversized sink with touch-activated faucet
• High-end appliances including KitchenAid mixer, Ninja blender, Instant Pot, Breville smart oven, & more
• Coffee setup with choice of Keurig or drip coffee - pods included for your convenience
• Cooking necessities from avocado & olive oil to gourmet spices, hot sauces, & more.
• High end cookware featuring plenty of pots & pans (nonstick, cast iron, stainless steel) & utensils (basting brushes, spatulas, etc.)
• Crate & Barrel dinnerware
• Comfortable leather barstools & luxurious lounge chairs for after-dinner cocktails
• 6 person dining room table overlooking the mountains
• Wireless phone charger
LIVING ROOM:
• Comfy sectional with chaise lounge - plenty of space for family & friends
• LG smart TV with Netflix login and connected Apple TV
• Gas fireplace (seasonal) operated easily by wall switch
• Southwestern blankets for cozy nights by the fire
• Real cacti & succulents, bringing the desert indoors
MASTER SUITE:
• King bed
• Over-sized windows - wake up to desert wildlife
• Jacuzzi tub
• Modern backlit & anti-fog mirrors
• Dual shower
• Dual vanity
• Extra towels & linens
• Rotating selection of invigorating shampoos, conditioners, & body soaps
• Spa bath products (e.g., eucalyptus oil spray for shower, bubble bath, lotions)
• Large sliding barn door for privacy
• Skylight for natural lighting
• Blow dryer
• Wireless charging stations (bedside)
2ND/3RD BEDROOMS & BATH SUITE:
• Queen bed in each bedroom
• Dual vanity with large backlit, anti-fog mirror
• Shower/bath combo (kid friendly)
• Rotating selection of invigorating shampoos, conditioners, & body soaps
• Spa bath products (e.g., essential oils, lotions)
• Skylight for natural lighting
• Additional half-bath for convenience
• Pack 'n Play for those traveling with a small child
• Phone/device charging station (bedside)
FULL OFFICE
• Large wood desk with office chair overlooking the mountains
• Smart TV
• Fully separate space, with dedicated WiFi satellite - perfect for remote work
• Wireless phone charger
LAUNDRY
• High-capacity front-loading washer & dryer
• Stocked with Tide, OxiClean, & stain remover
• In-wall ironing board with iron
• Utility sink
OUTDOORS
• Weber BBQ grill
• Fenced rear terrace with Adirondack chairs
• Amazingly comfortable CB3 outdoor sofa chairs
• Dual Adirondack chairs on the front porch with 70 mile view into the Rio Grande Valley and the city of Albuquerque, extending to Mt. Taylor & the San Juan mountains in the distance.
ACCESS, GATE, & PARKING
• Security gate (code provided before check-in)
• Large driveway with parking for 5 cars
• Space for a trailer (consult with us for sizing needs before booking)
• All paved roads (many mountain houses are accessible only via gravel)
GUEST ACCESS
Guests have access to the entire house, except for locked storage areas including the master bedroom closet & garage, used to store personal property.
HOUSE RULES & NOTICES
• No more than 6 guests
• No more than 4 daytime visitors who are not registered guests. Daytime visitors may not stay overnight
• No pets
• No parties or events
• No fireworks
• No fires: Please note we are currently not allowing outdoor fires because of frequent fire restrictions and high wind
• Amazon packages sent to the house/address unfortunately often get delivered to a locked mailboxes that guests do not have access to. If you would like Amazon packages delivered, it's best to have them delivered to Whole Foods or another location for pickup.
• Security camera outside the front door monitoring the parking and entrance areas, including noise detection.
• No access to the hot tub or hot tub area without prior approval (see notes above)
• Areas not accessible to guests: Locked cabinet, master closet, & garage - all used to store owner personal property
• No local overnight guests (guests who reside within 50 miles of the property)
• Must be 25 years of age to book
• No smoking on property or consuming Illegal substances of any kind (inside or outside). We should note that, because the house is in a private community, there are no public spaces in the neighborhood where is smoking is permitted (e.g., the streets, sidewalks, etc). As such, this property is likely not suitable for smokers.
• No moving furniture or appliances
• Guests must maintain property in reasonably clean & orderly conditions (e.g., no trash left out, spills & messes cleaned up)
• Must obey house occupancy limits
• Home must be secured by locking all doors and windows anytime you leave the home
• Reservations over 28 days may require security deposit, background and credit check, and are subject to approval.
• For stays over 28 days, a monthly cleaning fee will be applied
• Guest agrees to report any issues at home to Host immediately.
• Your safety matters. There may be a Noise-Aware anti-party device or similar devices at the home.
• Winter weather: We are located in the mountains, and do get occasional winter weather. Because ours is a private community, there are not snow removal services. Snow often melts quickly and rarely do we get "snowed in," but it does happen. While we are happy to try and arrange private snow removal services, we can't guarantee they will be available. As such, please watch the weather, plan vehicles accordingly, and have backup plans if snow does inhibit travel!
Please note: There are multiple real cactuses & succulents in the house, some of which have very sharp spines. Please do not touch any of the plants, and keep children away from the plants as well.
